Shore thing: Drysdale’s Josiah, 14, and Ocean Grove’s Alli, 14, join Marine and Fresh Water Discovery Centre’s Pam Haebich to work on the dunes program.
By Michelle Herbison
AN INCREASE in “sand-boarding” on dunes is hampering an “ongoing battle” to protect the region’s beaches, according to a coast management officer.
Barwon Coast Committee of Management’s Maddie Glynn said children riding bodyboards down sand dunes were causing erosion and significant damage to native vegetation.
“It might be really good fun but the sand’s so fragile – it doesn’t bind like soils,” Ms Glynn said.
“Once it’s exposed to the elements it either goes back down the beach or wind blows it further into the secondary dune, smothering native vegetation.”
Ms Glynn said Barwon Coast and Queenscliff’s Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre would run a “hands-on” program this month aimed to educate students on dunes’ fragility.
Students from primary and high schools around the region were providing “manpower” to restore the dunes while learning about erosion, she said.
Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre’s Alex Gian-nuzzi said revegetation was helping protect some areas but in others people were still blazing “their own trail to the beach”.
“We want to go for a swim or surf or go fishing at the beach but we have to stick to the paths we’re meant to walk on.”
Ms Giannuzzi said involving students in planting ensured they were “learning through doing”.
A local aboriginal leader would also speak to them about sustainable coastal management, she said.
